Extensible display frame

ABSTRACT

An extensible display frame includes four L-shaped frame members, each having legs comprising elongated back elements, brace elements, framing elements and picture retaining lips. The brace element and framing element extend toward one another from opposite edges of the back elements and at acute angles with respect thereto. The width of the back elements on two of the members is slightly greater than that of two other members so that members having back elements of slightly different widths can be slidingly or telescopically interfitted to form the extensible frame. The joined members are telescoped toward or away from each other to accommodate pictures or items of varying sizes.

Turner et a1.

[ June 4, 11974 EXTENSHBLE msPLAY FRAME [76] Inventors: Webster '1. Turner, 982 Paradrome St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202; Eugene E. Turner, 1600 Ross Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45205 [22] Filed: July 16, 1.973

[21] Appl. No.: 379,369

Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or FirmWood, Herron & Evans 5 7 ABSTRACT An extensible display frame includes four L-shaped frame members, each having legs comprising elongated back elements, brace elements, framing elements and picture retaining lips. The brace element and framing element extend toward one another from opposite edges of the back elements and at acute angles with respect thereto. The width of the back elements on two of the members is slightly greater than that of two other members so that members having back elements of slightly different widths can be slidingly or telescopically interfitted to form the extensible frame. The joined members are telescoped toward or away from each other to accommodate pictures or items of varying sizes.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures EXTENSIBLE DISPLAY FRAME This invention relates to display apparatus and particularly to extensible picture frames which can be adjusted to accommodate pictures or flat objects for dis play.

While the broad concept of telescoping frames has been known for some time, it has become desirable to improve upon known frames in order tosatisfy the present day demands of manufacturing economy while yet providing attractive and sturdy display frames.

Accordingly, it has been one objective of this invention to provide an attractive extensible display frame.

A further objective of the invention has been to provide an extensible display frame which can be economically made and yet provides an attractive frame adjustable to accommodate pictures and the like of varying sizes.

A further objective of the invention has been to provide an extensible display frame having unitary telescoping members providing maximum structural rigidity.

Another objective of the invention has been to provide a picture mounting having a very narrow lip or picture-retaining edge.

Briefly, the invention comprises an extensible display frame including a number of frame members, each telescopically cooperating with other frame members to form an extensible frame. Each frame member includes an elongated back element, an elongated frame element, and an elongated brace element. The frame element extends forwardly from one edge of the back element and at an acute angle with respect thereto. The elongated brace element extends forwardly in an opposite direction from another edge of the back element and at an acute angle with respect thereto toward the frame element. The brace element of at least one frame member of each cooperating pair is not joined to its respective frame element and, when two frame members are telescopically connected, the frame element of one member slides between an edge of the brace element and the frame element of another member.

The back element and brace surface of the first member are thus captured by the corresponding elements of the second member in facial engagement so that only sliding movement between the members is possible. Four frame members, joined as above, are connected together to complete, in a preferred embodiment, an extensible display frame having a generally rectangular shape. It can be readily appreciated that the frame so formed is thus extensible and can serve to provide a highly attractive, unobstrusive, and sturdy display mount for pictures and the like of varying dimensions.

These and other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an extensible display frame according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame of FIG. 1 and shows a picture just prior to its positioning in the frame;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the invention showing a picture mounted in the frame;

FIG. 6 is a view showing one L-shaped frame member removed from another L-shaped frame member; and

FIG. 7 is a section showing a modified, very narrow, form of picture retaining means.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. I thereof a preferred form of an expansible display frame 10 according to the invention. The frame 10 is defined by four frame members II, I2, 13 and 14. Each of the frame members has two legs which are l5 joined at right angles to each other so that each frame member is L-shaped. An individual frame member is shown in FIG. 6.

Each leg of a frame member has a particular crosssection as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, each frame member leg includes an elongated back element 20, an elongated longitudinal brace element 21, and an elongated frame or framing element 22. The elongated brace element extends forwardly from one edge of the back element and at an acute angle A with respect to the back element. The framing element 22 extends forwardly from the elongated back element 20 along the parallel other edge thereof and at an acute angle B with respect to the back element 20 so that the elements extend toward one another. This construction provides a strong frame and allows sliding telescopic type movement between joined members and creates a hidden or unobtrusive frame. Torsional movement is resisted. Angle A, for example, can be approximately 65 and angle B can be approximately 25. Other angles, however, can be selected with efficient results.

The framing element 22 may be provided with an elongated'picture retaining lip 23, as shown in FIG. 2. In each pair of telescoping frame members, the brace element 21 of at least one of the members is not connected to the frame element 22 for a reason as will be described.

In the expansible frame of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, two of the frame members 11 and 13 have slightly larger or wider back elements 20 and brace elements 21 than the other two frame members 12 and 14. Thus each frame member engages and cooperates with a frame member which in some respects is slightly smaller or larger in width than itself in order to effect a sliding telescopic relationship. When the frame members are cooperatively telescoped, they define a very rigid extensible frame which may be slidingly adjusted to accommodate pictures and the like of various sizes.

The cross-section shown in FIG. 3 depicts the telescopic relationship between two frame members 12 and 13 when joined together. For purposes of clarity, similar parts of the frame member 13 with the larger back and brace elements are designated with the suffix La: As shown in FIG. 3, the frame member 13 has elongated brace, back and framing elements which tend to capture the corresponding portions of the frame member 12 in close facial engagement. Specifically, the brace element 21a overlies the brace 21. The back element 20a overlies the back element 20, and the frame element 22a is positioned against the forward surface of the frame element 22 so that the two frame members are secured together. Since the brace element Zlla is not joined to the frame element 22a of the frame member 13, the frame element 22 is free to slide between the brace element Zlla and the frame element 22a and thereby a very sturdy telescopic relationship is perfected. it will also be appreciated, of course, that the cooperation between the frame retaining lips 23 and 23a serve to further provide rigidity to the structure. it can be seen that the brace of 21 of frame 12 may be joined to its framing element 22, since these elements slide inside of the channel defined by elements 2lla, a and 22 a of frame member 113. Such joinder is optional but does improve rigidity.

Another feature included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the picture retaining lips 23 of each frame member are tapered so that they are thinner at end portions 24 toward the ends of the respective legs of each framing member than at their joined ends as at 25. in this manner and specifically as seen in FIG. 5, the unattractive square comers which would normally accompany a frame with nontapercd lips are eliminated. They may also be feathered" in thickness. This particular construction gives thecornpleted frame a somewhat modern bowed appearance about a picture P2. Of course, these retaining lips 23 may be designed in any decorative manner to provide the desired effect.

Perhaps as best seen in FIG. 4, the completed frame of the preferred embodiment provides a display mount which positions the picture or the like at some distance from the back elements 20 or rear of the frame. Thus, when the frame is hung on the wall in the normal manner, the picture is held outwardly from the wall and the frame construction can be rendered unobtrusive.

In FIG. 4, it can be appreciated that for relatively flat pictures or items of rectangular shape, each picture may be captured in grooves 26 which are formed by the frame retaining lips 23 and the frame elements 22 in each frame member. For descriptive purposes, FIG. 4 shows a picture Pl in a position which is slightly ajar from the final position the picture will take when properly mounted within the frame.

F IG. 7 shows another form of picture retaining means, alternative to the lip 23, which is unbroken along the sides of the picture and which may be made so thin as to be very unobtrusive. According to this embodiment, framing 22 is formed with a down turned lip 29, so that an abutment edge 30 is presented at the margin of the frame. The picture is clamped to this edge by a C-shaped locking strip generally at 31, which may be formed separately from the frame member and cut to length as needed. This strip 31 has a web 32 and gripping flanges 33 and 34. Flange 33 bears upon the picture P3 and presses it against the frame edge 30, while flange 334i grips the lip 29 of the frame to provide a secure mount.

The size of the frame defined by the framemembers is not particularly limited and the frame members themselves may be formed by any suitable material. it has been found convenient, by way of example, to form the frame members of plastic which is easily formed to the desired shape, as by hot wire bending from flat sheet, with the comers joined by solvent welding or heat bonding. injection molding is especially desirable because it enables frame members to be made with retaining lips which will overlie one another so exactly as to be almost invisible in use.

When the frame has been assembled and a picture or other item mounted therein, it is advantageous to lock the frame members against longitudinal sliding motion with respect to each other. This prevents frame separation which may occur when the frame is hung. Of course, the materials from which the frame or their dimensions may be selected to provide the friction requi' site to prevent unwanted separation. Alternately, small wedges of rubber (not shown) or other material may be inserted between, for example, the back elements of joined frame members to frictionally bind the members together.

The particular cross-sectional structure of each of the frame members renders each of the members relatively rigid and, when the members are joined together and the picture or the like mounted therein, the resulting structure is a relatively sturdy one. The range of sizes which the extensible display frame will accommodate is limited only by the length on each leg on each frame member. It is only necessary that each leg overlaps slightly on the adjoining leg in order to securely maintain the well defined frame.

These and other advantages and modifications will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention and the applicant intends to be bound only by the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. An extensible frame adapted to accommodate objects of various sizes for display and comprising;

a plurality of frame members disposed in telescopically cooperating relationship,

each frame member including an elongated back element having a predetermined width,

an elongated brace element extending from one edge of said back element at an angle thereto, and

an elongated frame element extending across the brace element from an opposite edge of said back element and at an angle thereto,

the respective angles and widths being selected such that the frame members are slidingly connected to one another to provide a sturdy frame.

2. A frame as in claim ll wherein said brace element and said frame element each extend at acute angles with respect to said back element.

3. A frame as in claim 1 wherein said frame elements include means for securing objects to said frame.

4;. A frame as in claim 3 wherein said means includes an elongated object retaining lip extending forwardly of said frame element and at an acute angle with respect thereto.

5. A frame as in claim 4 wherein said frame members are L-shaped and have two ends and wherein said elongated lips taper to a relatively narrow width toward said two ends respectively.

6. A frame as in claim 1 wherein each of said frame members is L-shaped, having two legs, and wherein each leg of said L-shaped frame member comprises a back element, a brace element and a frame element, each disposed perpendicularly to corresponding elements on the other leg of the element.

7. A frame as in claim 1 including four L-shaped frame members in cooperating telescopic relationship and forming a rectangular extensible frame, said frame members being slidable with respect to each other to vary the size and shape of said frame.

8. An extensible picture frame adapted to accommodate objects of various sizes for display and comprising;

four L-shaped frame members telescopically cooperating with one another to form said extensible frame,

each frame member including a back element having parallel edges,

a brace element extending in a first plane forwardly from one parallel edge of said back element at an angle thereto,

a frame element extending in a second plane forwardly from another parallel edge of said back elebers telescopically cooperate.

4: r: a a m 

1. An extensible frame adapted to accommodate objects of various sizes for display and comprising; a plurality of frame members disposed in telescopically cooperating relationship, each frame member including an elongated back element having a predetermined width, an elongated brace element extending from one edge of said back element at an angle thereto, and an elongated frame element extending across the brace element from an opposite edge of said back element and at an angle thereto, the respective angles and widths being selected such that the frame members are slidingly connected to one another to provide a sturdy frame.
 2. A frame as in claim 1 wherein said brace element and said frame element each extend at acute angles with respect to said back element.
 3. A frame as in claim 1 wherein said frame elements include means for securing objects to said frame.
 4. A frame as in claim 3 wherein said means includes an elongated object retaining lip extending forwardly of said frame element and at an acute angle with respect thereto.
 5. A frame as in claim 4 wherein said frame members are L-shaped and have two ends and wherein said elongated lips taper to a relatively narrow width toward said two ends respectively.
 6. A frame as in claim 1 wherein each of said frame members is L-shaped, having two legs, and wherein each leg of said L-shaped frame member comprises a back element, a brace element and a frame element, each disposed perpendicularly to corresponding elements on the other leg of the element.
 7. A frame as in claim 1 including four L-shaped frame members in cooperating telescopic relationship and forming a rectangular extensible frame, said frame members being slidable with respect to each other to vary the size and shape of said frame.
 8. An extensible picture frame adapted to accommodate objects of various sizes for display and comprising; four L-shaped frame members telescopically cooperating with one another to form said extensible frame, each frame member including a back element having parallel edges, a brace element extending in a first plane forwardly from one parallel edge of said back element at an angle thereto, a frame element extending in a second plane forwardly from another parallel edge of said back element and at an angle thereto such that said first plane, if extended, would pass through said second plane, the back element, brace element and frame element of two of said frame members capturing the corresponding elements of other frame members in respective facial engagement therewith, and the frame element of the other of said frame members passing between the respective free edges of the brace elements and the respective frame elements on said two frame members when all of said members telescopically cooperate. 